SOFTBALL SPLITS TWIN-BILL WITH SANTA BARBARA

SANTA MARIA-- In a day that proved a near miss for both teams to record a Western State Conference sweep, the Allan Hancock College softball team split a double-header with visiting Santa Barbara City College, 8-7 and 6-5.

Hancock (4-13, 3-5 WSC), came from behind to win the opener and had its chances in Game 2. Santa Barbara felt much the same, but held on for a one-run win before driving back down south.

After allowing three runs in the top of the first inning of Game 1, the Bulldogs answered with six in the bottom half, then battled hard for an 8-7 victory. Shortstop Stephanie Silva, who went 3-for-4, tripled and scored the game's winning run in the seventh. Erica Novoa and Natalie Ballesteros each drove in two runs, while Crystal Garcia (3-2) went the distance for the win.

In Game 2, Hancock rallied back twice from two-run deficits. Lena Felix tripled in two runs to tie it at 4-4 in the fourth and Clarissa Ruiz picked up an RBI to pull the Bulldogs even at 5-5 in the sixth. AHC could not answer what would be SBCC's winning run in the seventh and lost 6-5. First-baseman Nika Miller paced the Hancock offense in Game 2, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

The Bulldogs continue their WSC schedule at Moorpark College on Thursday.